History What's your favorite old drag strip?

Another vote for Island Dragway in Nj.

Here is a thought,
How about someone starts a poll of the top 10 dragways so its easy to keep track?

 

Riverside raceway in Ohio,it closed in the 70s

 

I LOVE Beech Bend. I've been to a bunch of tracks around the country, and it's by far the 'coolest' in my opinion. Plenty of shade, covered bleachers, history, new bathrooms, and right down the road from Holley (who support the bigger events held there).

I've been to Famoso too...and yes, it's historic. And hot, sticky, shade-free, dusty and dirty. But, I'd go back. My wife...not so much.

~Scotch~

 

Aquasco Speedway would be my first choice, but closed in '79. As such, I'll go with Beaver Springs or Mason Dixon (both 1/4 mile tracks).

 

LaPlace Dragway in 1962 and 1963

 

Colton, San Gabriel, Lions, OCIR, San Fernando, and The original Irwindale were what it is all about.

The closest thing left is Famoso. The track still has the feel, the pits still have the chuckholes, and the memories are forever.

 

Since my old hometown track, Carlsbad Raceway, closed (I was there the day it opened in 1964, and I was there the day it closed in 2004) I'd say for old-time feel, I agree with Crusty Nut and Humboldt Cat, on Samoa. When I first went there a few years back, it reminded me of C-bad. And Sea Level tracks are known to make some good times and MPH...

 

I know this is A few months late but I want to 2nd Winterport dragway. I call it my home track even though I live 5 hour away in R.I. In one weekend I put down more than 45 passed on paper. I run A Ford model A roadster and it fits right in. If you got A fat head you won't. lol. The people up there are the best and camping at the track is cheap. you can't beat it. see ya Jared, ps the King and Mashall dragster may be running there July 12. first time in the car has run in 25+ years

 

Got to be Beech Bend. Nostalgia all the way. Those bleacher seats are ancient. Who else has covered bleachers?

 

Here's a tardy vote for Famoso, out by Bakersfield. It's hot, it's dusty, it's desert, it's used to specialized events, it's already well known and it's reasonably centralized for the coast.

And we could call the regionals the West Coast "HAMBake-off" with a straight face.
OK, I truly apologize for that one ...

Still, my vote's for Bako.

 

LIONS Drag Strip, Long Beach, CA





Fontana



San Gabriel



Irwindale



AND, Linda Vaughn having a Popsicle...

 

Oh, and as for the original question for a strip thats still in operation?

Famoso...legendary

 

Well maybe not my favorite but a cool pic anyhow. Taken while it
was being split up and auctioned off in the late 80's,it survives now
as an outlaw 1/8th mi. track Lakeland Motorsports Park.

 

Love E-Town and Atco , the patch has neve changed anything not even the broken shit-house door.... got to love Island Dragway!

 

I used to race the Mesa Dragstrip in Grand Junction, CO in the late '70s. It's still there and going, from what I understand.

The old Choctaw Road dragstrip in eastern Oklahoma County, OK was a pretty good place in the early '80s...until the City of OKC made racing there nearly impossible. Now, it's all houses.

The OKC Fairgrounds used to have a nice track that closed around 1978 or so. It was one hell of a place to run, but I moved here after it closed, so all i have are great stories from guys who ran there!

 

Kahoka Drag Strip, Kahoka , Mo.
_____________________________________________________________
Like I told the kid, "Your music not too loud, it just sucks!"

 

Mine's for the west end of things...why not Jackson County Raceway? It's in Medford, Oregon, a picturesque town of about 60-70 thousand 30 miles north of the California border....plenty of Motels and Southern Oregon College is in the next town south [Ashland]......many, many hippy-type chicks and even an annual Shakespearian festival. It's a fairly new 1/4 mile strip with a shut-off area that goes up a mountain! Too cool.
They've been in business for about 15-20 years and can handle a large crowd. I believe it's a sanctioned NHRA track.
It's halfway up the coast so Californians and Washingtonians can intermingle with the native Oregonians.

 

Kingdon in Lodi,CA halfway between Sacramento and Stockton,CA they closed in the 70's and they have re-opened and have had an event the last few years that catered to the cars we appreciate the most. I googled some pics from last events,COOL!

 

Beaver Springs, Pa.
Beaver Bob.....
great place

 

My "home track" is New england dragway in Epping, NH, however, that being said, I believe that Lebanon dragway (www.dragway.com) would be a great little track to hold a hamb event. It is easily accessable for guys coming anywhere out of the east as its located on the mass/NY/VT border, the Mass pike goes right to it that connects with 84. As a spectator you really can get right in the staging lanes, nice show area for cars, nice track. Ive always been real pleased with the track and there are lots of nice hamb style cars and drag cars here. The fact that its pretty central for a hamb event (considering gas prices) is a plus. This is where Hemmings has their "Musclepalooza" each year.
This isnt my closest track, but, my vote for a hamb event.

Also.....a nice family owned small track with a "anything goes" attitude would be Winterport dragway in winterport, Maine (www.winterportdragway.com). Currently that track has an OL Skool flag start series july 12th, sept 13, and Oct 4th. This is a real nice track where 99% of the cars Ive seen on the hamb can run (less the IHRA restrictions, etc). Great track with a great crew in beautiful Maine (vacation land) a good ride, but, its a good track

 

Definitely Mo-Kan in Asbury. Its a few miles from a good sized town, but a top notch place with great history. I did a little running there in the '70's. There are a few towns around, Nevada would be pretty good, but its a small town too. Joplin, MO is a haul, but more things to do there. Fort Scott, KS is up the road, but again its a haul.

Love that place. I am on the other side of the state now, but that one is a great place.

 

How about Maryland international Raceway, perfect for the east coast, right in the middle,could make it north vs. south

 

The one in Sanjose on 101 was originally Fremont Than Baylands raceway but I
believe Baylands is gone now as well.

 

San Angelo Dragway (previously Wall Dragway). We used to hang out there when i was in high school.

 

Island Dragway in NJ home of the fist real 200 mph pass in 1964 by BIG D himself i still race there. I have a pic from 1963 of my dads car parked in the pits and a pic of my car in the same spot and you cant tell its 40 years latter. Nice track its a little short but i can stop my fed at 178 with out being scared
ROCKY (FED SM BLK 7.78@ 178 )

 

Famoso has a lot of history and great steaks at the Cuckoo Inn in Delano, Beech Bend has great stands, ac and showers in the restrooms, camping and a amusement park for the kids

 

Famosa-Pomona-Woodburn

 

Island in NJ, ran my friends 55 Ford, my 64 Chevelle, and helped friends with a 409, 63 Corvett, all great memories from the sixties.

 

http://www.gulfportdragway.com/
Localy owned by a drag racer 1/4 mile home of the anual Harley Blow Out.
Gulfport, MS

 

Can we name every strip that is still in operation??? I am suprised that no one has mentioned Great Bend, KS. Why this one... try the first US Nationals! Still looks like an old runway!!! KCIR in Kansas City, new concrete and asphalt 2 years ago and until they put in the new aluminium bleachers this year, it looks like it did when it held its last national event in the early 80's. MO-Kan is the first dragstrip that I ever visited but I have yet to run the 1320 there. Tulsa is something else as well.

Can you tell I live in the Mid West??